Disabled children statutory social work team

Welcome to the disabled children team page. Find out what we do, contact details, useful links and information on social work services for all disabled children, including those who are deaf or have dual sensory loss needs.

Frequently asked questions about our disabled children team

We are Northumberland disabled children team. If your child has a moderate to severe learning and/or physical disability we will do our best to provide support, or to put you in touch with those who can.

Where appropriate, we aim to:

promote the care of children within their own families and communities by providing an assessed package of support

assess support needs via one of two assessments; an early help assessment (EHA) or a children and family assessment (if criteria is met for accessing statutory social work support)

minimise the impact of the disability by limiting social barriers that exclude disabled young people from universal provision and addressing the ‘every child matters’ outcomes

assist children and young people at times of transition, including transfers to an adult services care manager

Click on the links below to find out more about this service.

What is the disabled children team responsible for?

Where appropriate we:

complete a statutory ‘children and families assessment,’ following a referral

co-ordinate care plans

organise services, including referrals to other services

liaise with multi-agency professionals who may be involved with your family

regularly review our plans and services with young people and their carers, at least every six months

identify young people who may require assistance to access further education, supported employment or particular care services post 18

If your young child is to be 'looked after' overnight, via short-break care or full-time accommodation, the council has additional responsibilities to promote your child's welfare and protection.

What will an assessment from the disabled children team look at?

An assessment will look at the needs of the child and the needs of your family.

The information gathered helps us to understand how best to help you and find the most appropriate people to help.

There are three types of assessment:

early help assessment (EHA)

children and family assessment

carers assessment

The children and family assessment will include an assessment of the carer’s needs. However, carers can request a separate assessment if they feel this would be more beneficial.

Transfer to adult services

In year nine, we decide whether young people with statements of special educational needs or education, health and care plans (EHCP), are likely to require social care support services as an adult. This usually happens when a transition social worker from our team attends the child’s year nine school review.

If it appears likely they’ll require adult social care support, their name is put on our transition database. This means:

their progress is monitored by us until they are 18

information and advice can be offered to the young person and their family

information about their likely future needs can be passed to adult services

This happens whether or not young people are already receiving a service from our disabled children team.

Infolink – register for disabled children

We’re required by law to maintain a register of disabled children living in Northumberland to help to plan and monitor our services. We call this register Infolink. Registration on the database is voluntary and you are entitled to see what has been recorded about your child.

What is the My Max Card scheme?

Families who’re registered on Infolink are eligible for the My Max Card scheme. This entitles you to a Max Card, which gives free or discounted entry into many museums, galleries and heritage attractions across the country.

How do I get one?
You need to be registered on the Infolink register and then call us on: 01670 516131.

One card will be issued per family of four. The card is valid for children under the age of 18 and parents within one household only.

Can I organise support for my disabled child myself or via direct payments?

If you need support at home, daycare or short breaks and this has been agreed following an assessment of need, you can arrange these yourself, rather than via the council, depending on your preference.

Under our direct payments scheme, the county council will pay you the cost of the service, and you then make your own arrangements. There are some exceptions to this, which are described in the documents below.